Bears Among Nation’s Top Recruiting Classes With 2018 Early Signees

BERKELEY – Wyking Jones' inaugural fall recruiting class is among the best in the country, with a trio of standout prepsters signing their National Letters of Intent to join the Golden Bears. Top 100 recruits Jacobi Gordon (Houston, Texas) and Matt Bradley (San Bernadino, Calif.) and three-star California standout Andre Kelly have signed with the program, Jones announced today.

Three sites rate Cal's three-man class in the early signing period within the nation's top 25 classes, with 247Sports and Scout giving the Bears the 18th-best class in the country. ESPN ranks the class 22nd.

"I can't express how excited I am about our 2018 class. These three young men are going to be tremendous additions to our program in so many ways," Jones said. "Not only are they unbelievable ball players, but they're even better people. Their parents deserve a ton of credit in raising these exceptional and talented young men."

Bradley is ranked 97th in the ESPN 100 and is a consensus a four-star prospect according to ESPN, Rivals and 274Sports. At 6'5 and 210 lbs., he's the 18th-ranked shooting guard in the country.

"Matt is one of the toughest players I've seen in a long time," Jones said. "He's a fearless competitor. His mentality and strong demeanor are ideal characteristics to drive him to succeed on the court, not to mention his ability to score at a high rate."

The San Bernadino, Calif. product spent three years at San Bernardino High School before transferring to Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah for his senior season. During his junior year at San Bernardino, the wing led the Cardinals to the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, scoring 39 points in a 57-55 first round upset against St. Paul. Bradley averaged 33.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per a game.

Last season, Bradley scored 72 points -- a San Bernardino High School record -- and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 88-55 victory against Rubidoux High School.

He received first-team all-Sun honors as a junior.

Gordon checks in at 89th in ESPN's Top 100 and ranks as the No. 22 small forward in the country. The fifth-best player in the state of Texas, he's the second Bear out of Houston to join the Cal roster in recent years, alongside current freshman Darius McNeill.

"Jacobi is a very versatile wing that can play pretty much anywhere on the floor," Jones said. "With his skill level, high basketball IQ, size and length he's a matchup problem. He does a great job using his size against smaller guards and using his quickness in the post."

Gordon averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.1 assists in his most recent season. While playing with Houston Hoops on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring, he put up 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds through 11 games.

Kelly, out of Lincoln High School and AAU club Team Arsenal, is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals. At 6-8 and 230 lbs., the Stockton, Calif. product will provide plenty of strength and power in the paint for the Golden Bears.

"Andre is a very skilled post player with phenomenal hands and footwork," Jones said. "He's a stat stuffer that we will be able to count on contributing in all phases of the game. His mobility allows him to dominate games on both ends."

As a freshman, he averaged 7.4 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game, and improved to 15.2 rpg alongside 24.1 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocks as a junior for the Trojans. He shot 63 percent from the floor, and 72 percent at the free throw line, helping Lincoln to a share of the Tri-City Athletic League championship.

The Stockton Record's reigning All-Area Player of the Year set school single-season records last year for points (650) and rebounds (411), tallying 1,221 points and 812 boards over his three-year varsity career.

"The Cal family will love these three young men for the excitement they will bring to Haas Pavilion," Jones added. "Coupled with their commitment in the classroom and how they represent themselves in their communities, this is an all-around impressive class."

The ideal would be both Brown and Brooks but they're probably going to have to show fight and gradual improvement to get one or both. I think they do a good job of selling that a class of those five could be immediately transformative, so I don't think a losing season would eliminate them. I just wouldn't want to risk a disastrous season.

Real talent, class balance, and viable depth would be an awesome change of pace for Cal Basketball. Especially if Jones wants to run. But they really need two more bigs IMO. That said, none of it matters if Wyking Jones and his staff do not make coaching strides with the program this season. Losing at home to UCR should never happen! Sincerely, Cal State Bakersfield

The ideal would be both Brown and Brooks but they're probably going to have to show fight and gradual improvement to get one or both. I think they do a good job of selling that a class of those five could be immediately transformative, so I don't think a losing season would eliminate them. I just wouldn't want to risk a disastrous season.

How are we doing with Brooks? If we can only get one of these guys, I think I'd rather have him because I think he might be a longer term investment than Brown.

Real talent, class balance, and viable depth would be an awesome change of pace for Cal Basketball. Especially if Jones wants to run. But they really need two more bigs IMO. That said, none of it matters if Wyking Jones and his staff do not make coaching strides with the program this season. Losing at home to UCR should never happen! Sincerely, Cal State Bakersfield

The college basketball bribery and corruption scandal has cost USC a top recruit, at least temporarily. Forward J'Raan Brooks, a 6'8" 210-pound forward from Seattle (Garfield High) who is ranked among the nation's top 100 high school players, said he is reopening his college search.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances stemming from the recent news that has come to light in regards to the Trojan basketball program I have decided to reopen my commitment to examine other available options," Brooks wrote in a Twitter post. "While USC is still very much a possibility, the uncertainty of their situation has led me to believe I should reassess my own."

The main concern I have for Gordon's recovery from his achilles tear is the quality of surgery and rehab for a high schooler. If he were in already in college or pros it wouldn't be a concern. Good thing is that he has youth on his side and is at optimum healing capability.